[Insert Garo: Yami o Terasu Mono Op]


Alone

All was quiet in Youkai academy as it was the middle of the night. Everyone was asleep in their dorms, even Takeru slept in his dorm room this night. But that was besides the point.

A shadowed figure walked through the schools halls the figure was a tall male figure but his features were all hidden by the darkness. But he was reading from a book as he walked he then stopped at the Headmasters office.

"Matoku…" he sighed as he tried to open the door. He then slammed his book shut as he grabbed the skin on his arm. He then pulled at it and let it dangle from his wrist before it changed into a blade. He then cut the locks off the door before kicking it open. He then walked in and to the desk where he found a trunk. He then sliced the padlock off it and the trunk's lid flew open revealing several blades that held the essence of horrors.

"Ah found them." he smirked as he closed the trunk and lifted it under his arm. He then made his way out as the doors closed behind him.


Ryuga turned in his bed early in the morning.

"Oi Ryuga time to get up!" Takeru shouted tossing his pillow at him. Ryuga slowly sat up as he tossed the pillow away.

"What time is it?" Ryuga asked.

"Time to get off your lazy ass." Takeru commented as he was checking himself in a mirror. "We have to sell papers today come on."

"Hai…" Ryuga grumbled, it was still very early and it was a late start day but they still needed to get up early so they could sell the newest papers to the students early before school. "Zaruba wake up." he said as he grabbed his armor and duster.

"Why do I have to come, I'm not really a member." Zaruba complained but Ryuga just picked him up and put him on his finger.

"cause you accepted the contract now you're stuck with me." Ryuga sighed as they made their way out.

"I'm starting to rethink that now." Zaruba said.

"Too late you're stuck with us." Ryuga said as the knights all made their way out.

The three walked out to meet the girls and make their way to the Newspaper stand, they regularly left a few out near the lockers and sold the rest on the weekend to get funds for the club.

"Morning Ladies!" Takeru greeted.

"Morning." Ryuga added as Aguri just nodded.

"Morning boys." Moka smiled.

"Ryuga!" Kurumu cheered as she jumped at him.

"Kurumu wait!" Ryuga called as she knocked him over.

"Ah look at the lovebirds." Takeru snickered as Aguri cracked a smile.

"Kurumu!" Moka nd Yukari said.

"What I missed Ryuga I'm just get my daily dose of love is all." Kurumu smirked as Ryuga sat up.

"Must you tackle me every morning?" Ryuga chuckled. "I'm a master fighter, but even I get sleepy."

"Well you can come rest in my room." Kurumu offered. "All alone with me, but let's leave Zaruba at your place."

"Well thank you for being considerate." Zaruba chuckled.

"Alright thats enough from you." Yukari sighed as raised her Mado brush, she then waved in the air before a washbasin fell on Kurumu.

"Itai!" Kurumu called as she shot up. "Why you little flat chested brat!" she cried as she swiped at yukari with her claws.

"Well it's better than being a no-brain all boob bimbo." Yukari shot back.

"Bimbo!" Kurumu cried as they chased each other.

"Ah things never change do they." Takeru sighed.

"Let's just go." Aguri recommended.

"Right, come along you two." Ryuga said as he grabbed Kurumu and tossed her over his shoulder as he carried Yukari under his arm.

"Oh Ryuga." Kurumu sighed dreamily.

"Chotto! Why do they get rides!?" Moka shouted. The group just made their way as they ignored that last question much to Moka's ire, which was still cute. But one of the group even the expertly trained Makai Knights could sense someone spying on them. As they left a head of purple hair poked out and watched them.


After their little skirmish this morning, everyone made their way to their stand that Gin had already set up. The gang then got to work handing out papers. As usual they broke off into groups. Ryuga, Moka, Kurumu and Takeru acted as sales people or perhaps a more appropriate term is eye candy as people flocked to them just to bye papers. Aguri and Yukari worked on keeping numbers counting papers sold and money earned. Gin...well Gin was just being Gin as he disappeared for his "Research" yet again.

"Yoksha!" Takeru shouted as the finished. "Thats all of them baby!"

"Man that took a while." Ryuga sighed as he cracked his neck.

"Well luckily today is a late start." Aguri said. "Well I shall go take these to Priest Burai, before class starts."

"Cool, I'm going to go get a drink before class see you at the little party after class." Takeru said as he went his own way.

"Oh right, so we'll all meet up after class right?" Moka asked.

"Hai." Ryuga nodded as he rolled up a paper and hid it in his duster. Ryuga liked to keep a copy and save it for rereading, he liked to read his friends work it made him happy. Plus it came in handy when he had the runs.

"Ryuga we have a customer." Zaruba pointed out as Ryuga and the girls looked up.

"Excuse me." A calm, toneless female voice said. Standing there was a pretty girl, she had light purple hair which was long and reached to her her back. She had pure icy blue eyes. She was dressed in a different kind of uniform than most of her classmates; she had a light brown pleated checkered skirt, a white sweatshirt with long dark blue sleeves with a black singlet underneath and a yellow pendant. She wore long dark & light purple striped stockings with white shoes and has a belt tied to her left leg. "are there anymore papers?" she asked as she held a lollipop.

Ryuga looked around before he pulled his personal copy out of his duster. "Here, it might be wrinkled, but it should still be good." he smirked as he held it out. "On the house no worries."she then leaned in and took the paper.

"You ll get along so well…" she noted as she looked at Ryuga. "I don't understand."

"Eh well friends just get along." Ryuga smiled. The girl smirked as well as she turned to leave.

"Thanks for the paper." she said as she left.

"Ryuga, ano Ojou-chan do you know her?" Zaruba asked.

"Nope never met her." Ryuga said.

"I don't like her." Kurumu growled.

"Oh calm down would you. Not every pretty girl is competition you know." Moka said. "Besides thats what you use Takeru for." she smirked as Kurumu had a habit of pointing pretty girl in Takeru's direction when they got near Ryuga.

"Hey at least that perv is good for one thing." Kurumu shouted.

"Whatever lets get to class." Ryuga said as everyone followed him.


"Morning everyone." Ms. Nekonome greeted as she came in. "Today we shall be welcoming back a student who has been unable to attend more than half the first term." she said as the door opened. Everyone then paid attention. "This is your classmate Mizore Shirayuki."

"Eh!" Kurumu and Ryuga gawked as standing there was the purple haired girl from before. Mizore then bowed.

"Mizore-san has been awfully sick till recently, so I would like all of you to make her feel welcomed." Ms. Nekonome said, "Ah there is a seat near Ryuga-kun."

"Hai." Mizore nodded as she made her way to a seat in front of Ryuga's in the neighboring row. "Thank you sensei." she nodded.

"Oh I'm just glad you're feeling better." Ms. Nekonome said as Mizore looked back at a confused Ryuga.

"I am." she said with a faint smirk.

"Oh...looks like you've done it yet again Ryuga." Zaruba said aloud so only he could here.

"what do you mean?" Ryuga whispered.

"Hehe….don't worry about it champ."

After class everyone was excused for the day and Ryuga was walking down the halls after Moka dragged Kurumu with her to get supplies for the party. Ryuga was walking about on make shift patrol to make sure no horrors where loose during the day.

Ryuga then stopped in the middle of the hall as he felt something, Ryuga's hearing was one of his best senses and right now he could hear the footsteps of another person within the hall. He then looked back at one of the pillars.

"You can come out now." he threatened as he reached inside his duster and grabbed his sword. Mizore's head then poked out surprising Ryuga as he relaxed. "Shirayuki-san you scared me."

"funny your the one with a sword." she teased making them both laugh a bit. She then walked forward and pulled the paper Ryuga gave her from her sweatshirts pocket. "I read your article it's really good." she said raising the paper to hide her mouth.

"Really thanks, my works not anything special." Ryuga chuckled.

"But I like your work, your stories are always well written and very emotional. I can tell how you fell from them." she smiled. "The others are good too, but…"

"Aguri's are too statistic themed for a good read and Takeru's are, well they're just stupid facts about women and men." Ryuga chuckled. "Kurumu's are good for those who like to cook, and Moka's are nice too."

"Yes, but as I said yours are my favorite. I can really tell how kind you are, and how sad you feel to see people hurt." she explained.

"you must really like my work huh." Ryuga smiled, Mizore then blushed slightly as she pulled a notebook out of her sweater. It was an ornate blue book with a silver heat and white rabbit on the cover.

"Hai, I really like your articles so I saved them in this book," she explained as she handed it to Ryuga. Ryuga then opened the book as he read it over. He found Mizore commented on a few of his articles but he smiled none the less. He found it sweet someone took this much trouble for his work.

"This is sweet of you." Ryuga smiled as he closed the book and handed it back.

"Thank you." she said, she then blushed slightly as she grabbed the book and their hands brushed one another. "I like how your articles are from an outsider's point of view, it's something I can relate too."

"More then you think Ojou-chan." Zaruba whistled.

Mizore then looked at the sentient ring. "your Ryuga's pet ring right?"

"Pet! I'm no pet I'm his partner!" he stated proudly.

"Hah you admitted we're partners." Ryuga smiled.

"GAH!" Zaruba choked realising what he said.

Mizore chuckled a little at this. "It must feel lonely having traveled all those times with just a ring to talk to." she commented on some of Ryuga's tales of his adventures.

"Yeah it was kind of lonesome sometimes, but Zaruba's good company once you get to know him, and now I have people that make me feel less lonely here." he smiled as Zaruba smirked. "But I know the feeling of being alone very well." he said with a more serious expression.

"Then we do understand one another," Mizore smiled, "Do you want to hang out? I know a nice place." she offered with a small smile.

Ryuga looked into his eyes but regretted it she was giving him pleading eyes that he just couldn't say no to. It was just unfair.

"sure." Ryuga chuckled. "Just stop with the eyes it's too cute." he laughed as Mizore grabbed his hand and dragged him off.


Ryuga stood smiling happily as Mizore skipped a stone that made it five times before it plopped into the water.

"Not bad." Ryuga smirked.

"Thank you, here you try." she said as she placed a pebble in his hand.

"Alright." Ryuga smirked as he tossed one that kept skipping across the water till it reached the other end.

"Sugoi…" Mizore gasped. "your good at this."

"Well I guess swinging a sword around has made me pretty strong." Ryuga smirked as he flexed his arm.

"But's it's also given you a big head…." Zaruba smirked. Mizore and Ryuga both smirked at his remark.

"Zaruba's pretty funny." Mizore smirked with a slight laugh.

"Why thank you finally someone who gets me." Zaruba laughed.

Ryuga looked at Mizore as she smiled. He then smiled too making Mizore notice.

"What is it?" she asked curious.

"Nothing it's just you smiled, a smile looks good on you." he said happily. "A smile really suits someone like you Shirayuki-san."

"You can call me Mizore." she offered.

"Hai Mi-zo-re-san." Ryuga said with a grin as Mizore smiled.

"Ne Ryuga isn't the party going to start soon?" Zaruba asked. Mizore then frowned as Zaruba said this.

"eh you're right." Ryuga said.

"Ryuga-san is it alright if you stay just a little longer?" Mizore asked. "I get really lonely and when I'm with you I feel like I'm not alone anymore." Ryuga looked at her with a sad look before he nodded and put on a smile.

"Well I'm sure they won't mind if I'm late. Worse case is i get into an argument with Aguri." he smirked.

"Yatta!" Mizore cheered as she grabbed his arm. Ryuga then grabbed another pebble as they went about throwing more stones.


"Takeru put that down!" Kurumu shouted as delivered a flying side kick to the knights face sending him crashing out the window. A cookie then fell from his hands which Kurumu caught and put back on a tray labeled 'For Ryuga only, don't touch. OR ELSE'

"Wow thats some impressive air." Yukari whistled as Takeru hit a tree outside.

Gin then tried to sneak one only for Kurumu to deliver an Ax kick to his head smashing his face into the tile floor.

"I've warned the two of you don't touch them." she warned as Gin groaned in pain.

"It's probably for the best, these are laced with a powerful love potion." Aguri said as he sat as his personal desk in the club room. He was cleaning his soul metal arrow head. "But I doubt they will work Kurumu-san, most knights have trained their bodies to be immune to foreign toxins."

"Eh!" the girls gasped. "Ryuga's poison proof!"

"Yes, it's become common practice." Aguri explained.

"speaking of which why is Ryuga so late?" Yukari pondered.

"I don't know but he better have a good excuse." Moka pouted.


Back at the lake Ryuga laid down on the ground and used his arm as a head rest as he looked at the clouds, Mizore was doing the same at least three feet from Ryuga.

"You know your a really nice girl Mizore-san." Zaruba said as Ryuga had his hand with Zaruba across his stomach. "Why is it you don't have more friends?"

"I've just always been alone, I'm used to it by now." she said with a slight frown.

"That's not right." Ryuga said getting her attention. "Your a kind and great person. you deserve to have friends. Like mine." Ryuga said as he sat up. "I use to pretty alone myself with all my journeys. Now I have great friends, Moka, Kurumu, Yukari, even Aguri and Takeru. Plus Zaruba." he smirked as he held up the ring who just grunted in agreement, but both of them noticed as Mizore tensed up.

"Do you want to go to where Akashiya Moka is?" Mizore asked coldly as Ryuga could feel the temperature drop. Ryuga then shot up. "Don't go Ryuga, if you do then I won't be able to ensure her safety. No...it's already too late." she said.


The door to the club room then opened as everyone looked up hoping to see Ryuga but only saw Mizore as she walked in...wait what?

"Shirayuki-san?" Moka asked as she got up.

"Hello pretty lady!" Gin said as he slid in front of her, but he kept sliding into the wall knocking himself out as the ground under him froze.

"Moka Akashiya...you're an eyesore, now disappear!" she said as she suddenly appeared before Moka and grabbed her neck. Mizore then pushed her into a wall as her hands started to tightly grip her throat choking the poor girl. Moka gasped for air as Aguri got up and aimed an arrow at her.

"Release Moka!" he shouted coming to the aid of his friends as he fired his arrow only for it to hit a wall of ice. "Nani!?" he shouted as his own feet froze in place.

"Stay out of my way." Mizore replied as she looked back at Moka as her hair turned to ice. "Now disappear."


"Oi what are you talking about?" Ryuga demanded. "what did you do to my friends?"

"Nothing yet." she said, "But soon you will not have to worry."

"Oi I am worried, they're my friends!"


"Oi what the hell!" Takeru shouted as he came in. He then noticed Mizore as she was choking Moka. "Hey let Moka-san go!" he shouted in anger as he crouched down to summon his armor, but midway through the spin he tripped. "Itai...what the fuck!" he shouted noticing his feet frozen.

"Baka! how the hell did you ever become a knight!" Aguri demanded as he used his arrows to pick away at the ice covering his legs.

"Moka!" Kurumu shouted as she summoned her claws and cut off one of Mizore's arms revealing to be made of pure ice. Mizore's face then cracked as the rest of her body was revealed to be ice.

"Do not interfere." the Ice clone said as it's severed hand was still choking Moka.

"It's a projection of her thoughts in an avatar like state." Aguri said.

"the hell does that mean?!" Takeru asked as he used his sword to try and break the ice covering his legs.

"It's a clone!" Aguri shouted. He and Takeru then kept trying to break the ice. Yukari then fired a blast of magic at the ice hand still holding Moka.

"Moka-san!" Yukari called helping her stand.

Takeru then broke the ice on his feet as he stood up. "since you're just a clone then I'm going to enjoy this." he said as he crouched down and drew the light circle. He then summoned Zen's armor. Zen then raised his sword as it was wreathed in crimson flames. Zen then stabbed it into the frozen floor as everyone was freed. He then jumped and slashed the clone the flames so intense the evaporated the ice clone to steam.

Zen then looked at everyone. "Everyone okay?"

"Wait what if Ryuga is in danger?" Kurumu asked as she helped Moka stand.

"right, I'll go find him!" Zen said as he jumped out the window.


"I won't let you leave." Mizore said as the lake and ground froze over. Ryuga's legs where quickly covered in ice. "As you can see I'm a Yuki-Onna so you won't be able to leave, Dogai Ryuga."

Ryuga looked at his legs as this happened. He then pulled out his Garo ken and used it to break away the ice but it was spreading to quickly. Ryuga stopped when Mizore put her hands to his face.

"Please stop resisting, I don't want you to be hurt."

"Mizore-san please stop this!" Ryuga said as he kept struggling.

"Ryuga! use Mado fire to melt the ice." Zaruba said. Ryuga then lifted his Mado Lighter and sparked it but he then noticed Mizore back away in fear from the flame. The flames also illuminated her face, nothing happened to her eyes, but the flame still scared her. Ryuga then realised, she was a Yuki-Onna and her and heat don't mix.

Ryuga then closed the lighter as the ice crept up his chest.

Mizore smirked at this Ryuga had given in.

"RYUGA!" Zen shouted as he ran in he then ignited his armor with crimson flames he then got between them as Mizore backed away from the heat.

"Wait Takeru…" Ryuga called.

"Kisama!" Zen roared. "Why did you attack us!? I know you're a Horror!" Zen then raised his flaming sword.

"Takeru!" Ryuga shouted as he pulled his sword out of its sheath and drew a light circle as he summoned his armor. The Garo armor then came down and broke through the ice to get to Ryuga. Garo then grabbed Zen from behind and tossed him away.

"Ryuga what are you doing!" Zen shouted as he tumbled along the ground. Garo stood between him and Mizore.

"Mizore-san wa Horror ja-nai!" Garo shouted as he raised his Garoken in defense.

"Ryuga…" Zen said as both knights sent their armors away. Ryuga then fell to his knees as his body began going in to temperature shock.

"Ryuga." Mizore said as she tried to help him. But Takeru beat her to it.

"Oi don't you go getting any ideas! you've already done enough!" he said as he pointed his sword at her. Mizore backed away as he said this. She then ran off as Takeru carried Ryuga off.


Ryuga came too in his room as Aguri was sitting near by. "So you've finally woken up. We were worried, your body had gone into shock from the sudden freezing to the burning of the Mado flames of Takeru's armor."

Ryuga then sat up as he looked for his sword. "Ryuga where are you going?" Zaruba asked as he was on his perch.

"To find Mizore-san." he said as he grabbed his duster.

"That's unwise, the Yuki-Onna are known for freezing the men they chose as their spouse, if you go back to her then you'll die from being frozen." Aguri told him.

"I don't care." Ryuga said as he grabbed his Garoken.

"Ryuga...why do you worry for this girl so?" Zaruba asked.

"She's in pain, alone." he said, "I can't stand to let that happen to someone like her. Besides if she goes on like this she could attract horrors. So I'm just doing my job." Ryuga smirked.

Zaruba looked at Ryuga as this made him think back. "Is that so. Alright then." Zaruba chuckled as he floated off his perch and into Ryuga's hand.

Aguri shook his head in annoyance. "Very well I shall help you." he said as the two made their way to leave.


"Eh Ryuga's awake!" Kurumu shouted as she was strangling Takeru.

"H...hai...he woke up a few hours ago and now he's searching for that snow girl…." he choked out as Kurumu tossed him away.

"Why would he go looking for her?"

"Ryuga could be trying to help her." Moka said. "Sure she did try to kill us but she wasn't a horror, so Ryuga must just want to help."

"Damn it thats one thing I hate and love about him." Kurumu sighed.


"Where Shirayuki-san lives?" Ms. Nekonome asked curiously. Ryuga and Aguris first stop was the teachers lounge.

"Hai… I need to speak with her as quickly as possible." Ryuga explained.

"Oh, how nice of you!" Ms. Nekonome smiled. "I know exactly where she stays so I can give you the room number."

"You sure you wanna do that?" asked a rough voice asked from behind.

Ryuga and Ms. Nekonome both turned from her desk to see who was talking. They found themselves looking at a man who was wearing track suit pants and a sleeveless shirt. His skin was tanned and he had red hair.

"She's dangerous, you know," the man continued. "A really unstable girl."

"Kotsubo-sensei?" Ms. Nekonome blinked.

"I'm just saying she's trouble," Kotsubo shrugged. "You know why she was gone so long, kid?"

"she was sick or something right?" Ryuga asked.

"What is your point sensei?" Aguri asked.

"That's the cover story," Kotsubo chuckled. "You see, she attacked a teacher, apparently for no reason. She just snapped all of a sudden."

Ryuga wanted to argue this but Aguri stopped him from doing so. "so you say she just attacked a random teacher, thats difficult to swallow."

"Maybe it is, but you're hearing it from the horses mouth." Kotsubo chuckled. "You see, I'm the teacher she attacked. Put me down for a while too."

"Ryuga, this man reeks of Inga we can't belive him for a second." Zaruba spoke mentally getting Ryuga's attention.

"Is that so." Ryuga said, he then ignored him. "Well I'm sure she had her reason." Ryuga said as he turned back to Ms Nekonome. "Sensei we'll take her address I really need to speak with her.

"Hey kid didn't you hear me." Kotsubo said.

"I don't believe it, Mizore-san...might be confused, but I know she's a good person." Ryuga said as he didn't turn around. Ms Nekonome smiled as she handed Ryuga a piece of paper.

"Arigato Sensei!" Ryuga said as he and Aguri made a run for it.

"Those two will be trouble." Kotsubo frowned as he left as well. Unknown to anyone a figure reading a book watched them before his eyes trained on Kotsubo.


Meanwhile, Burai and the headmaster were sitting in his office as they found the blades with the essence of all the horrors that the Knights had sealed and kept within box to be sent to the nearest watchdog had been stolen.

"Why would someone steal these horrors blades?" the headmaster pondered.

"Simple, there were some powerful horrors in their. they must have taken them for one reason or another." Burai said. "I pray that Ryuga and the others can handle what comes of this."

"Well I have faith in our young ones, they are our future." the headmaster smiled.

"Yes…" Burai smirked, "They are our hope for a future. We need to rest it all on their shoulders, but we must also help them by lightening the load. Mikogami, we can't just let them inherit all our burdens."

"Hai…" Mikogami smiled. "Then I shall call in some friends for assistance." he said. "You can help our little troupe of heroes mature, they can also use some upgrades." he said as he raised his hand as something appeared on his desk they were a pair of light purple demon horns. "These horns are from the first horror Ryuga cut down, thy will make fine pieces of soul Metal."


Ryuga came to Mizore's door as he knocked on it. "Mizore-san!" he called as he knocked more. He then put his ear to the door. But nothing, there were no memories attached to it. Ryuga then decided to hell with it and kicked in the door.

"Oi Ryuga!" Aguri shouted as Ryuga ran inside.

"she's not inside." Ryuga said as he came out. "come on Aguri!"

"Hai." he then tapped the silver earring on his ear. "Takeru, Moka, Kurumu she's not in her room where going to go out and look."

"Right!" Takeru shouted as he and Gin when searching near the gym.

"Alright." Moka nodded as she and Yukari where looking through the woods.

"I'll keep looking." Kurumu said flying through the air.

Ryuga and Aguri then made their way outside as they kept searching.


Mizore sat on a cliff near the back of the school that overlooked the red waters. She was thinking, she tried to freeze Ryuga, yet he protected her from his friend that came to save him. Don't think about that sentence to much. Ryuga tried nothing but to be her friend, to be close to her, but she ruined it, by attacking his friends and trying to freeze him. Now he was hurt because of her.

"Well, well, well," she heard a voice. "Alone again, huh, Shirayuki?" Mizore spun around and saw the gym teacher, Kotsubo.

"Kotsubo…sensei?" Mizore backed away from the grinning teacher.

"You know, it's funny what kind of card life deals you," he said as he approached her, grinning lecherously, "You said you liked me and then you attacked me."

"You were taking advantage of me," she defended. "You tried to force yourself on me!"

"Well, nobody is going to believe you anyway," he said. "I mean it's a teacher's word against a student's." He finished, "That's why you were hiding yourself and now you're doing the same thing." He then lunged at her and pinned her to the ground. She struggled against him.

"Let me go!" she demanded.

"Oh, don't be like that," he licked his lips. "Just let me do whatever I want and I'll put in a good word for you. How's that?"

Mizore's eyes were filled with fury her hair then turned to ice as her hand was covered in ice she threw a punch that kocked the man off her and over the cliff. He screamed as he fell and Mizore suddenly felt horrified. She'd just killed a teacher, she realized.

She looked over the cliff to see if he was alright, which she doubt, but she still did it, "SENSEI!"

She couldn't see anyone and she started to cry. Standing up, she turned away from the cliff when all of a sudden something grabbed her by the ankle and pulled. She screamed as she was being pulled off the cliff but she grabbed onto the edge and looked down over her shoulder to see Kotsubo had assumed his true form, a kraken. He had an octopus on his back along with several tentacles.

"Now I'm pissed off you little bitch! you couldn't just let me have my fun!" he roared.

Mizore's grip weakened as Kotsubo tried to pull her down, his extra tentacles then raised up as several kept him stuck to the cliff wall. His grin got even wider.

"HA!" someone roared as a sword cut off the tentacle holding Mizore's ankle. Ryuga then grabbed Mizore as she fell. He then stabbed his sword into the wall as he grinded down it till he stopped above Kotsubo and kicked him in the face sending him into the water below.

"He should be okay, he's an octopus so he doesn't have many bones to break." Ryuga smirked as he was pulled up by Aguri who had a rope tied to Ryuga's waist.

Mizore looked up at Ryuga who still held her in his arms. "Ryuga…" she said looking up at him.

"Daijobu…" Ryuga said "I'm not mad. I'm just glad you're alright." he smiled as Mizore's eyes started to water she then cried into Ryuga's shoulder. Ryuga just sighed as he placed his hand on her head. "Oi, oi it's alright you can stop the water works."

At the bottom of the cliff Kotsubo climbed out of the water as he glared at the top.

"Hurts huh?" a voice asked as he saw a figure above him. "Here let me help." he said as he pulled out several daggers he then jumped and stabbed them into Kotsubo's shoulders and back. Kotsubo screamed in pain as all the daggers were absorbed into his body that started to change as multiple different features developed on his body.

"Ryuga a horror!" Zaruba called as something climbed from the cliff. Ryuga, Aguri and Mizore looked up at a giant ink black octopus creature with a what looked like an armored shell covering it's head, it's tentacles looked like sick amalgamations of limbs with painted on symbols. It had one large cycloptic red eye that stared down at them.

It's tentacles then hit the three youths sending them flying back.

"Minna!" Takeru shouted as he came up to them.

"Holy shit!" Gin shouted seeing the horror. "What the hell is that!"

"It's an amalgamation horror." Burai called as he walked in. "It is every Inga horror we have cut down since we came here all in one body." he explained. "Who ever has absorbed them will be able to influence its actions."

"Damn it!" Takeru complained.

"give it your best from the start!" Ryuga shouted as the knights all got upfront.

"Ryuga you and Takeru try to attack it's main body, Aguri give them cover and if possible fire your Soul Metal arrowhead into it's eye." Burai instructed, "We shall cover your attack!" he said as he fired a spell at a tentacle. "Attack!"

"HAI!" the Knights shouted as they charged forward. Ryuga and Takeru cut down several tentacles as Aguri fired arrows only for them to be blocked. Kurumu and Gin used their claws to keep tentacles away from Priest Burai while Moka, Yukari and Mizore stood behind him. The three knights stopped a few meters away from the horror, Ryuga raised his sword as Aguri held his bow in front of him and Takeru slammed his sword to the ground.

The three then summoned their armors in flashes of light. The horror looked at them as it's tentacles lashed at them. But Zen charged forward first and blocked all it's attacks. Garo followed behind him as Gai was last in the line. Zen slashed down more tentacles while several were blasted away as Gai jumped off Garo's back. He then fired ten arrows at the horror that all hit it's main body making it scream in pain.

Garo and Zen took a chance and jumped and tried to slash at it but two tentacles knocked them flying back. Gai fired more arrows but another tentacle grabbed him and lifted him into the air where it began to constrict around him.

Garo got back up first as he charged and cut down more tentacles. He then ignited his blade with Mado fire as he launched a sword beam of green flames at the Horror only for it to create a net of tentacles.

The Tentacles then flew at Garo only for Zen's sword to slashed them all away before it flew back to it's owner. The two knights nodded as they looked at each other and both charged again. Garo knocked the tentacles away as Zen ignited his entire armor in flames. A tentacle came at them but Garo blocked it with his sword by holding it up straight cutting it in two only for it to wrap around the knight.

Zen kept going as he jumped and charged at the horror his flaming body burning tentacles as he passed them. the horror's eye trained on him and it sent a barrage of tentacles that all burned on contact. Zen kept going but the barrage of limbs was almost too much as he was being pushed back before he was finally sent flying his flames being put out as he landed in front of the others. The mass of tentacles then swallowed Garo.

"Ryuga!" Moka shouted as this happened. Burai created a barrier that blocked the tentacles.

"Rago!" he called as his Makai beast came out. "Free Aguri!" he ordered as the beast ran across the air to Aguri where it started to bite the tentacle holding him.

Zen then got up. "I'm going again!" he shouted as he charged and started to hack away at the wall of tentacles but several of the tentacles wrapped around his lime as he did so.

"they're running out of time…" Burai said as the knights were all riding out the armors time limit. "Ryuga!" he called getting Garo's attention as he struggled to escape his fleshy prison. "Don't give up your Garo!"

"Who's giving up!" Garo roared as he raised his left arm. "Zaruba!" he shouted as the Madogu breathed green flames into the tentacles around them. All the tentacles caught fire as Garo jumped out. He then ran across the largest tentacle to the horror whose eye trained on him it's eye then turned to one of anger as Garo got closer. It's eye started glowing as it began to fire blasts of energy. Garo raised his sword to block them as he walked forward but each one knocked him back further.

"Why!?" the horror demanded as it kept focusing on Garo, "Why do you protect someone who has no one. That girl is all alone who would notice if she disappeared!"

Garo looked up as Ryuga grinded his teeth under the helmet. "Mizore-san…." he grunted as more blasts hit him. "Mizore-san is not alone!" he shouted as he started marching forward as he walked into the barrage of blasts from the horror. Garo soon neared the horrors main body as he slashed it's eye making it scream as a tentacle knocked Garo flying back.

Mizore watched Garo as he landed before them. She smiled as the tentacles broke through Burai barrier, just as they were about to come at Mizore looked up as all her emotions about Ryuga surged causing a sudden cold wave that froze the horrors' tentacles all the way to it's body.

Everyone then looked at her in amazement as her hair turned back to normal. Rago then freed Gai as he landed on the ground. Zen then burst free as well. All three knights then stood side by side.

"Todomeda." Garo shouted as Zen and Gair charged forward. Garo then raised his sword as it was wreathed in green flames, "Takeru!" he shouted as he slashed his sword sending a sword beam of Mado fire to Zen. Zen jumped and stabbed his sword into the flames as his body entered blazing arment.

"Aguri!" he shouted as he sent a sword beam to Gai who caught it with his bow. The three knights then charged as they were all in Blazing arment.

"HA!" the knights shouted as they jumped at the horrors body as the raised their weapons. Zen and Garo slashed their swords creating a flaming X in the air that Gai aimed his flame covered Soul metal arrow head. He proceeded to fire his arrow as it went through the X as all their flames merged together into a multi-colored flaming arrow.

The arrow then pierced the horrors eye with a loud crash before it's body exploded sending all the knights skidding back across the ground. The three knights all stood straight as the ice that covered the horror fell around them as snow as their Mado flames were put out. They all sighed as their armors flew off them and back to their home dimensions.

The three knights then fell to their knees in exhaustion.

"That was such a pain." Ryuga sighed.

"Ah that was so creepy." Takeru muttered.

"Thank god it's over." Aguri panted.

"Ryuga!" The girls called tackling him down.

"How come Ryuga gets the reward?" Takeru complained.

Burai walked up them with a smirk.

"That's done." he said as they all got up.

The group then made their way to leave, as Mizore was led by Ryuga.


the group of heroes walked back to the main school building.

"Mizore-san you know you're free to join us." Ryuga offered.

"Really?" she asked in disbelief.

Ryuga just patted her head. "Of course." he smirked.

"Oi Ryuga!" Kurumu called as she glomped Ryuga from behind. "Stop cheating, you already have me!" she whined.

"Oi Kurumu cut it out already." Moka complained as she tried to pull her off.

Everyone shared a good laugh till they all stopped. Standing in their way was a shadowed figure who whistled a creepy tune. He was was a horror, he was tall as the guys with a black skeletal face and other black bone like armor over his arms hands, legs and chest. his body was a dull silver and white with black patches over his body, he also looked like he had a hood on. He also had two coat tails that hung around his waist.

"Horror!" Burai shouted as everyone stopped.

"Greetings…" he said as he held a book in his hand that he closed. He held up a book that's title read 'No Longer Human' he then put it away behind his back. "Makai Knights, you may call me death." he joked with a snicker as he walked forward. "It appears you defeated my little lab experiment." he noted as he walked towards them.

Ryuga was the first to act as he slashed at horror who raised his hand to block it. Ryuga then pulled his sword back but the horror delivered a palm strike as his hand released a golden glow that pushed Ryuga against a wall. The now revealed Madou horror kept his hand pointed at Ryuga as the light literally drove him up to the wall.

"AH!" Takeru shouted as he slashed at the Madou horror only for it to deflect his blow with a kick before he kicked Takeru across the face. Aguri then fired an arrow but the horror caught the arrow mid air and tossed it away.

Ryuga jumped and slashed at the horror only for the horror to jump over him and kick Ryuga across the face sending him tumbling back. As the horror landed he ducked as Rago attempted to pounce on him. He then blocked a blast of lightning from Burai before he jumped back from a rock falling on his head. He then grabbed a punch from Gin before tossing him into Aguri. Ryuga then jumped as he swung his sword and summoned Garo.

Garo slashed at the horror who just kicked Garo's chest sending him flying into a wall. The Garoken fell to the ground as the Madou Horror lifted Garo by his high black collar. The Madou Horror punched him across the face sending him into the wall again.

The Madou Horror ripped one of the ribs that made chest armor off as it shifted into a scythe. He swung his scythe around before bashed the back of the head across Garo's helmet before the bottom of the shaft sending him flying off to the side.

Takeru and Aguri both jumped into the air as they summoned their armor. Zen and Gai both slashed down at the horror, but their attacks ther blocked as the horror raised it's scythe behind his neck to block their attacks. The Madou Horror pushed the knights back as he jumped into the air and kicked back sending the two knights skidding back.

Garo then jumped in and kicked at the horror but the horror just blocked it before he kicked Garo's chest sending him flying away. He then slashed Zen across the shoulder before he swung around and slashed Gai. He then stabbed his scythe into the ground and delivered a scissor kick to Zen's face before he spun and kicked Gai sending them both back.

The Madou Horror then spun his scythe around as he slashed all three knights knocking them back. But as Garo skidded back he grabbed the Garoken. Garo jumped forward and slashed at the horror who used his scythe to block only for Garo to cut the weapon in two.

The Madou horror looked at his weapon before he took the end with the blade and slashed Garo across the chest. Garo got back up and retaliated as he slashed the horror across the chest. This released another light that sent him flying back again. The horror then spun around and slashed Zen before he punched Gai in the face, he then struck the bladed of the scythe to Zen's shoulder as he used it to support himself on his hand as he kicked Gai as he jumped at him and then he twisted and kicked Zen's head sending him back as well.

Both knights tumbled across the ground as their armor was released. The horror smirked as he raised the scythe blade to cut down the two knights, but his hand was then severed by the Garoken. Garo then punched the horror across the face sending him flying back. The horror skidded to a stop on his feet as he landed. Garo then charged but the horror raised his stump of a hand releasing a larger than normal flash that hit Garo and caused his armor to turn gold knocking him back. But Garo stepped forward bit by bit as his armor smoked and Ryuga writhed in pain from the burning armor.

"RAH!" Garo roared as he grabbed the horror and punched his face as his armor receded. Ryuga stood there as the Madou horror just laughed.

"you interest me Garo." he said as his hand regrew. he flexed his fingers as he closed his hand and punched Ryuga sending him to the ground. He then grabbed his head and lifted him up. "I like you, it's not often I meet people like you." he smirked as he dropped Ryuga on the ground. He then looked up as he stopped. "Sorry but it's time for me to go, I'd love to play more but bosses orders."

He then jumped away before he faded away into the night sky as a blur. Ryuga looked up before he fell down.

"Ryuga!" everyone called as they came to check on him.

"He's out cold but fine." Burai said as he held Ryuga up.

"who was that Madou Horror?" Aguri asked as he stood up.

"I don't know." Burai said as looked at the unconscious Ryuga, everyone then help move Ryuga to his room so he could heal.

To Be continued...


"People have regrets and fears." Ryuga narrated as Aguri was firing arrows in the woods. "Like the fear of never being able to live up to others expectations " he went on as Aguri talked to a girl with a smile on his face. "But we all want to be ourselves and express ourselves. Without worry of disappointing others." he finished as a paint splattered Aguri held a bunch of arrows in his hands and charged. "Next time: Hunting"